Why is Yoga a Science?

And why is Hinduism not a religion?

Vishnu – the sustainer

The word yoga as most people know means unity, but no one can possibly understand the word unity until that unity has been experienced. Therefore until one has achieved the unity of being connected to our inherent nature, yoga cannot be understood and the word is only used in reference to all the methodologies that may or may not bring about that ultimate unity.

Within the texts and Scriptures about yoga, the thrust of those teachings is to inspire and direct people towards that cosmic unity whereby individuals who achieve that unity can understand the nature of existence as that is there inherent nature and they are enlightened.

Yet within the codified writings known as Vedanta, the nature of reality is clearly defined. But until such time as the individual reading that information has become enlightened, it is an interesting philosophy and often largely meaningless.

So within Vedanta the nature of existence is clearly described to those who know how to read. While this information attracted a certain amount of curiosity outside of India and a few people got hooked, to the casual observer it was just some eastern mumbo-jumbo unworthy of much serious thought and labelled as Hinduism. But could not be easily understood or commercialised, it was disparaged and lead not only to the ridicule of Hindus, but this McCarthyism has caused many Hindus to turn against themselves.

The evolution of Western science

Western science has evolved in an era of haughty arrogance and deemed itself superior to all other traditional forms of knowledge including the knowledge and wisdom of India. However some scientists have looked to India for insight and inspiration. These included Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla amongst many others.

When we step forwards into the 21st century, the idea of Shiva the underlying reality of existence became more widely known in the fields of physics, quantum physics and advanced mathematics. In fact Vedanta has so influenced scientific thought that Shiva as Nataraj, the Lord of the dance is displayed at the large Hadron Collider facility in Cern, Switzerland. In fact this knowledge has advanced so far that I’ll leave it to Dr John Hegelin to explain in more detail.

As you watch this video, you will see the exact correlation between Vedanta and modern physics. As it is presented, this is an intellectual experience whereas the exercises referred to as yoga are designed to take us into that unified field so that we can directly experience the true nature of existence.

Over the past 15,000 years or so, yogis have been merging into this unified state and on returning to daily consciousness, they have influenced the lives of ordinary people in accordance with the true nature of existence.

Can you see why Hinduism was and is not a religion?

For thousands of years enlightened men and women have helped the peoples of the Indian subcontinent and beyond to appreciate life and to live a life based on the laws or principles of nature.

One of the primary truths of life from a human perspective is that everything we ever experience takes place only within our own consciousness because the senses of the body transmit information to our mind which then interprets what we are sensing.

As a consequence, the land that we call India has been a region of relative peace and an exuberance of joy and colour for many millennia. Before the invasions and subsequent occupation by the British, most of the people we may refer to as Hindu had not necessarily achieved enlightenment, but they had a strong intellectual appreciation coupled with their ability to observe cause-and-effect (karma in action).

Today Indian outsiders and even many Hindus themselves who accept the Western views see the Temple deities as worthless pagan idols. But from the perspective of the enlightened, those people who are in touch with the underlying reality of the universe, these deities like Krishna and so many others are actually sophisticated pieces of technology that help to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of life.

Within the concepts labelled as Hinduism, there is no need to believe in anything. But the fact that so many hundreds of millions of people have found a joy in living far beyond the normal experience of most Westerners is a testament to the effectiveness of these ancient traditions.

Krishna and Arjuna, by Ajoy Kumar Ghose via Tumblr

The civilisation of India is almost timeless and there is even some evidence to suggest that the principles of Sanatana Dharma existed way before the first known transmission of yoga some 15,000 years ago.

If you have watched the video, there is a brief discussion on health and that allopathic medicine is primarily chemical or surgical in treating symptoms whereas Ayurvedic medicine treats disease much nearer its root whereas the transcendental experience of yoga takes you into that primordial state of ultimate reality and all disease can be eliminated from within.

Therefore yoga offers solutions to solve the problems of every individual and what we call as Hinduism along with the healing arts of ayurveda and the appreciation of life is a solution for all the world’s problems.